Shobhabajar Rajbari, Kolkata

Shobhabazar Rajbari, also known as Sovabazar Rajbari, is an 18th-century royal palace in the Shobhabazar area of ​​Kolkata, West Bengal, built by the influential Raja Nabakrishna Deb. The palace is historically significant because it hosted Kolkata's first public Durga Puja in 1757 and later hosted a civic reception for Swami Vivekananda on his return. Being a cultural landmark, it attracts visitors during major festivals and heritage walks. The complex is spread across interconnected courtyards, typical of traditional Bengali palaces, combining vernacular layouts with neoclassical and Mughal style influences, reflecting the socio-political climate of colonial Bengal.

Shobhabazar Rajbari is a fine example of traditional Bengali zamindari palace architecture with notable Indo-European influences that developed between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Construction began in the mid-1750s under Raja Nabakrishna Deb and continued through the 1830s, with additions incorporating Moorish, colonial, and local design elements. The palace combines Bengal vernacular planning with neoclassical columns and arches, resulting in a visually rich yet practical layout suited for both residential and ceremonial purposes. Its design highlights the fusion of local craftsmanship and European stylistic influences, reflecting the cultural and social aspirations of colonial-era Bengal.

• Main palace wings surrounding the central courtyard
• Nat Mandap (Thakurdalan) open ceremonial courtyard
• Naach Ghar traditional dance and performance hall (now largely ruined)
• Singhadwar the lion gate entrance
• Nabaratna Temple family deity’s shrine

The central courtyard, framed by double‑storied verandas with multifoil arches and Tuscan columns, served as the focus for social functions and Durga Puja festivities. European stylistic traits, such as symmetrical façades and classical columns, coexist with local Mughal‑inspired arches and Bengali spatial organization to symbolize aristocratic prestige and cultural synthesis during the colonial period.

• Shobhabazar Rajbari’s Durga Puja, begun in 1757, helped establish the tradition of aristocratic family pujas in Bengal.
• The central Thakurdalan courtyard is supported by massive columns with square bases and multifoil arches.
• European classical influences such as Tuscan columns reflect colonial aesthetic integration.
• The Naach Ghar once hosted performances by famed artists of the era.
• The Rajbari hosted the first civic reception for Swami Vivekananda after his Chicago return in 1897.
• Its architectural blend symbolizes the cultural negotiation between indigenous traditions and colonial influence.

📅 Last update: 2026-01-26 || ✍ Author: Sandhya Chauhan

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